Hey there, ,
This morning I was thinking about the things I do that make all the other things easier in my week, and I came up with 2 that I think make the most difference here.
These are things I do, week in and week out that actually shorten my overall to-do list, help the things I need to do take less time, and also create space for thinking, for resting, and for just not being at my desk all the dang time. [oh, and bonus benefit, doing these things also leaves me with less (no...) guilt about not being at my desk, which is nice...).
The most magical part of these two things is that you can do them today - or tomorrow, or whenever - and you can do one or both, and no matter what you do when it will help.
Nice, right?
Okay, so here goes... two to-dos that manage all the other to-dos:
#1: Write in your journal - for real.
I know, I know, I know. Yes, I get it. Also? Taking the 10 minutes to journal (and I do this in a very specific way when I'm thinking about to-dos, I'm getting to that) saves me probably 200 minutes, or maybe 1000 minutes in the rest of the week.
10 minutes to save 1000 minutes is a trade I'll make every. time.
So what do you write that makes this much difference?
Two things:
First, WINS. Put your pen on your paper and write down all the wins you've had in the last 7 days. Yes, you've had them.
Doing this reminds you that you ARE accomplishing, progress is happening, and you DO help people. Write. Them. Down.
Second, GROUNDING thoughts.
For me these are things I know are true about me, my work, my business that I FORGET unless I write them down over and over again.
These thoughts save me time because when I remember things like:
- I trust myself, my process, my timing, and my creativity;
- I am a powerful creator and my creations help people;
- The universe is always conspiring in my FAVOR;
- I am ready for and open to welcoming all NEW experiences, people, and feelings...
I am about a million times LESS likely to get bogged down in doubt and spinning around, wasting time, not knowing what to say, not deciding things... and that saves me SO. MUCH. TIME (which I then trade in, like today, when I read for a half hour in the sun while I ate my lunch, crazy).
[PS. GROUNDING is the first step in effective sales. It's a crap-ton easier to sell when you are grounded in yourself and your expertise than when you are NOT. It's not just a time saver, but also a part of your sales process. It matters. #abg]
#2. Look at your calendar (work, life, family, all the things) for the next 7-14 days. Do the following:
- Find the crunched up spots, the spaces where you're like 'eeeek, how'd that happen' or 'ew, I don't want to do that' and also 'yuck'. Decide to either cancel/skip something or ask someone to reschedule to a different day/time.
- Find YOUR spaces, and HOLD them. When you see a block that's an hour, or two, or three and you KNOW you want it for yourself (to work, or NOT, or think, or whatever) - block it out now. I usually just create the block and write 'MINE' in the heading. Sometimes I know what the block is for and I'll write that, but mostly I just claim the space for me and figure out the rest later.
- Find FUN. Feeling like it's all the same and maybe also a lot of work and no play? Add fun. This morning I booked a massage for the end of the month, and lunch with a friend for next week. Both will be fabulous, neither will take a ton of time - and now I have a little extra fun to look forward to. What would be FUN for you?
Ahhhh... feels good, right?
Now you have space to do the stuff that matters, AND you've taken some of the squished not so fun stuff OFF.
And... if you're feeling crazy - and also like your calendar is a little nuts... do this for even further out. Create your 'mine' spaces ahead, and then let the people work around YOU vs. the other way around.
#3. Ahhh, I know. I said two, but I think three is a bonus.
This is something I always ask myself at the start of the week, and I'm always amazed at the answer.
The question: what do I NOT need to do this week that's on my list?
The follow up questions are - is it something I can push back? Reschedule? Give away? NEVER do?
And then move accordingly.
This morning I looked at my to-dos for this week and decided that there was one thing I don't really need to do until next week, and another that I could put down until probably November. They were both small 'feel like I should' kinds of things... and so for now, I'm letting them go. I'll reevaluate again next week.
So.
For you, today?
Try this out.
Let me know what you think.
Hit reply if you have questions.
And, hopefully?
Have a week that's a little less full, a little more fun, and a lot more YOU.
Much love,
Sara
PS. If you're not sure how grounding creates sales, how to choose which things you can get rid of or reschedule from your calendar, how to actually claim space for you to think and rest, or let go of all the guilt... this is what we do in coaching, among other things.
If you're ready for help, I'm here.
Group coaching starts the week of 11/6, and there are 1:1 spots open today.
Hit reply and let's connect.
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